Business in Edmonton - November 2020

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Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time.

Volume 8 | Number 11

REGULAR COLUMNS

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Hockey Business in Edmonton: Getting it Done

By Terry O’Flynn

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CONTENTS

26 41

Policy Makers Should be Cautious with Plastic Regulations

By David MacLean

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

By Rick Tiedemann

COVER FEATURE

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rent Hesje: Fueled by B Partnerships, Driven by Passion The CEO of Fountain Tire explains why partnerships are the key on the road to success

By Nerissa McNaughton

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NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

The Making of a Corporate Athlete

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Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time.

Volume 8 | Number 11

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THIS MONTH’S FEATURES

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usiness and Succession B Planning for an Uncertain Future

By Bethany Neufeld

CONTENTS COMPANY PROFILES

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S trata Electrical Contracting

Preventing the Workday’s Aches, Pains and Eye Strains

By Bethany Neufeld

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New Home Construction Continues During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Will Porter

Celebrates 10 Years

A&H Steel

Celebrates 50 Years

C ongdon’s Aids to Daily Living Celebrates 50 Years

E WEL

Celebrates 45 Years

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NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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Liftboss is proud to introduce another first in the construction industry, JCB’s compact, tracked backhoe loader. The 1CXT provides superior maneuverability, an optional handheld tool auxiliary, as well as a universal quick hitch that is compatible with most skid steer attachments. The machine is equipped with a 49 hp engine that requires no aftertreatment. iftboss Inc. was established in May 2006 by adding JCB construction equipment in 2017 has been Lessfour than six feet wide 7-feet-6 other backhoe loader willmore fit. partners John and and Andre Gagnon,tall; Daleput it to awork great where addition,no and has made Liftboss Inc. even

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Beatty and Marc Tougas to be a one stop shop visible in the heavy equipment industry in Alberta. dealership for all material handling needs. Having They will always stay true to their material handling worked in the industry before, the four partners, roots, but having an established and well respected Give us a call for more info or to arrange a demo. pooled all there resources, previous experience construction line has solidified the fact that Liftboss together and designed a new business model to fill Inc. is here for the long haul and ready to compete. the much needed niche that the industry needed.

Liftboss Inc. is an Alberta owned and operated Whether you are looking for a new machine, a rental, dealership, offering new and used equipment sales, service or parts on an existing unit, or simply want a total parts department, forklift rentals, forklift a second option on something, give them a call and training, trained and certified mechanics to perform they will be happy to point you in the right direction. repairs in shop and service vehicles to handle on site As a group, Liftboss Inc. do what they do based repairs. Liftboss Inc. prides it’s self on quick response on four core values: do what you say you will in a time to customer’s breakdowns. timely manner; be open and honest; do whatever it takes; and service the customer above all else. As Customer service was the reason the company each department grows, each team member is held was born, and has captured an impressive share accountable to those principles, their focus of business for Liftboss. In the past 3 years, the is to be a quality company that people downturn in the Alberta economy has definitely are proud to work for. affected the sales activity, but comparatively the service and parts business has noticed substantial growth. The sales team builds portfolios for each client’s needs and service preferences; this way, they can have a conversation with a client instead Introducing the future of construction equipment. of simply walking them around the The new JCB Hydradig is the world’s first wheeled excavator and showroom. Their clients appreciate tool carrier designed for purpose and built without compromise. the attention and reward them with Travel to—and around—work sites faster than ever, maneuver into repeat business and referrals.

tight spaces with greater safety, and apply the right attachments

Material handling and forklifts werewhere and continue to be they’re needed. a huge part of what Liftboss Inc. has grown from, but

Contact Liftboss JCB for more information.

EDMONTON BRANCH 7912 Yellowhead Trail Edmonton, AB (780) 474-9900

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NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

HOCKEY BUSINESS IN EDMONTON: GETTING IT DONE // TERRY O’FLYNN

Hockey Business in Edmonton: Getting it Done

BY TERRY O’FLYNN, CHAIRMAN, ALBERTA ENTERPRISE GROUP

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e are in unprecedented times, and if we want to find opportunity it means we have to go further and work harder to bring business to Alberta. The ingenuity of Alberta was evident by the recent success of the NHL bubble and shows that Alberta can seize opportunities even during these uncertain times.

The NHL bubble based out of Edmonton was a major success. Through 10 weeks they performed 67,613 tests on players and staff with zero cases of COVID-19. The eyes of the hockey world were focused on Edmonton, and it would be reasonable to expect to see positive side effects of that for years to come.

So, what lessons does this experience have for businesses in the months and years ahead?

For one, being ambitious is the right thing to do. Edmonton was hardly the first city to try to be the hub; a lot of cities had their eyes on this opportunity. Edmonton is the NHL’s most northern city and isn’t the regular tourist attraction as seen in other cities. That didn’t stop the team or our province from selling the city. One of a dozen or so applicants, there is no doubt that Edmonton was the most vocal and eager of cities to host the games. It was an ambitious bid, and it paid off. Edmonton was not only one of two NHL hosts, it was also the city chosen to exclusively host the conference finals and Stanley Cup Championship series.

Second, success in trying times doesn’t come easy. While eyes from around the world were focused on hockey, many sacrifices and countless hours of hard work were invested to see it all come together. This included venue, hotel and restaurant staff who stayed in the bubble for months to

make everything work. It included players who gave up their usual lifestyles to stay in a hotel and focus on their craft.

It included league management who followed all health protocols to come to Edmonton and see that everything was done right. It didn’t come easy – success in business never does – and that should serve as a reminder for the months and years ahead.

Finally, and this cannot be overlooked, it is important to look after your staff. Alberta businesses genuinely take pride in stressing safety in the workplace. It’s something we celebrate, and something we always look to improve upon.

Safety was paramount for the NHL, and the players and staff came together with what was basically a perfect record.

Meeting the challenge is the Alberta way. We’ve met them before and hosting the hockey world is a sign that we still have it.

This recent experience has brought eyes from around the world to Edmonton during a global pandemic. It wasn’t easy to accomplish, but Albertans got it done. It’s something we as Edmontonians can be proud of, even if the local team didn’t contribute the way we hoped.

The success of the NHL model has drawn the attention of the IIHF resulting in their decision to have a bubble for the World Juniors in Edmonton. While this will be another opportunity for our province to exceed expectations, let’s make sure it is not the last. Edmonton and Alberta can succeed in the months and years ahead, and the hockey business in Edmonton is just one example of how we will be up to the task.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // NOVEMBER 2020

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POLICY MAKERS SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS WITH PLASTIC REGULATIONS // DAVID MACLEAN

Policy Makers Should be Cautious with Plastic Regulations

BY DAVID MACLEAN

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year back my nine-year-old son came home from school and told me about his new passion – saving sea turtles. Specifically, he explained, sea turtles were being discovered with plastic straws stuck in their noses and that plastic waste is destroying their ocean habitat.

You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn’t seen the infamous viral video of the distressed turtle and countless others like it. It’s hard to watch – and that’s what makes it a powerful tool for those fighting for tougher rules on plastic use. For at least a decade we’ve been warned about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – a drifting, whirling mass of plastic debris estimated to weigh 73,000 tonnes.

Concern about plastics and how humans manage them has reached the point of no return for policy makers. A recent survey in the United States suggests that Americans are more concerned about ocean plastics than they are about climate change. It’s rare for any environmental issue to be this high profile and, when it happens, it sets the stage for some wonky policy choices.

The Trudeau government, naturally, has long signaled its intent to address Canada’s role in plastic pollution. It began with the release of a discussion paper as part of a plan to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030. It proposes banning six items: plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings and food ware made from hard-to-recycle plastics.

Canadians may dislike banning some of these things, but this won’t keep too many CEOs up at night. Where this goes in the future is the problem. The government has also signaled its intention to add “plastic manufactured items” to schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

That would mean plastic would join asbestos and mercury on Canada’s toxic substances list. This is huge.

Plastic cutlery and six-pack rings are an issue but consider the importance of plastics in manufacturing – particularly in the supply chain. Edmonton exporters use plastics to wrap, bind and secure products for shipment around the world.

I had one Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters member tell me they may have to hire a full-time person simply to manage plastics. For a small business, this represents a massive hit that competitors around the world don’t necessarily face.

While Canada is not the culprit when it comes to ocean plastics – we rank 187 out of 192 countries when it comes to leaking plastics into our oceans – we must do a better job of managing plastics waste. According to the Chemistry Industry of Canada, 86 per cent of plastic waste winds up in landfills, rather than being recycled. They estimate the cost of not recycling that waste is nearly $8 billion per year. Manufacturers want to use less plastic and their want to support their customers’ commitment to improving environmental performance.

Everyone is on board with reducing reliance on plastics, but the feds and the provinces should work together to develop policies that help Canadians reduce and reuse plastics over a reasonable timeframe and avoid making hasty, social media-driven policy decisions that may have far-reaching economic implications.

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UK-based Alchemab Partners with Amii to Accelerate the Development of Novel Therapeutics to Cure Disease Alchemab, a UK biotech company focused on harnessing the power of adaptive immune systems to cure disease, announced a strategic partnership with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) to accelerate its adoption of artificial intelligence. As part of this partnership, Alchemab is establishing a presence in Edmonton and hiring a dedicated apprentice to support advanced research sourced and supervised by Amii.

“At Alchemab, we use a data-driven approach to learn what makes people healthy, and translate these findings into developing novel antibody therapies. By partnering with Amii, we are enhancing our machine learning capabilities, which will be pivotal in building the next generation of antibody discovery technologies. I look forward to working with the team at Amii,” says Alex Leech, Alchemab CEO.

One of Canada’s three centres of AI excellence as part of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, Amii (the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute) is an Alberta-based non-profit institute that supports world-leading research in artificial intelligence and machine learning and translates scientific advancement into industry adoption. Amii grows AI capacity through advancing leading-edge research, delivering exceptional educational offerings and providing business advice – all with the goal of building in-house AI capabilities.

Alchemab identifies “elite controllers” – or especially resilient individuals – and learns how they overcome or resist disease to develop novel therapeutics through its proprietary drug development platform. The company has a range of programmes across cancers, neurodegenerative conditions and infectious diseases.

What is artificial intelligence?

“Innovative teams like Alchemab are positioned to make profound improvements for individuals experiencing complex and life-altering illnesses. Our role in translating scientific breakthroughs in AI into industry adoption was developed specifically to support teams like Alchemab. Our scientists, educators and researchers are poised to coach the team to help them reach their goals with greater efficiency and speed. When a company like Alchemab succeeds, the positive impact of technology adoption is felt around the globe. We’re proud to play a role in their AI journey,” says Cam Linke, Amii CEO.

Why focus on machine learning?

Alchemab is a UK biotech company incorporated in 2019 and backed by leading healthcare investors – SV Health Investors, DCVC Bio and the Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF).

Artificial intelligence is a discipline of computing science that allows a system to complete tasks we typically associate with cognitive functions – such as reasoning, strategizing and problem-solving – without requiring an explicit solution for every variation.

Machine learning is a set of computational techniques that use data to create models that make predictions about future data. These models independently learn and continuously adapt to changing environments without being explicitly programmed for the data they encounter. Machine learning is a crucial component in many artificial intelligence systems.

Industry is particularly interested in adopting applied machine learning, and investing in advanced research in the field, because of the focus on using historical data to inform future opportunities for systems improvement, discoveries, and augmenting human-cognitive capacity.

ABOVE: CAM LINKE, AMII CEO. PHOTO SOURCE: AMII

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NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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Christmas Kettle Campaign 2020 Christmas is right around the corner and that means The Salvation Army is getting ready to launch their annual Christmas Kettle Campaign. Since 1891, The Salvation Army Christmas Kettle has been a symbol of hope for children and families who otherwise would have nowhere else to turn for help. The tradition of donating through the holiday season will continue despite COVID-19, as the new “Tip-Tap” Kettles will allow for an easy and safe way to donate with debit or credit.

This year, it is expected that The Salvation Army will see an increase in requests for assistance during the holidays as many Calgarians are left vulnerable due to COVID-19. Major Margaret McLeod, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army Alberta and Northern Territories Division, comments that “many Canadians are facing economic hardship, and are finding it difficult to access everyday needs, like food, shelter, and clothing. The funds raised through Kettle donations stay local and directly helps Calgarians by providing toy hampers to over 3,000 families at Christmas, as well as job search programs, summer camps, ESL classes, back-to-school supplies and many other year-round programs.”

The 2020 Christmas Kettle Campaign begins November 13, and officially launches in Calgary on November 19 with their annual fundraiser, Hope in the City – which will be a virtual event this year. The Salvation Army is honored to have Hayley Wickenheiser as our special guest speaker for this unique event. A four-time Olympic gold medalist and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, she has continued to inspire even off the ice as she puts herself on the frontlines of community as a medical doctor during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hope in the City event will look a little different this year as being virtual, it will launch all Kettle Campaign across the

Alberta & Northern Territories Division. A special bonus this year will be the “Day of a Thousand Lunches,” included in winter care kits that will be distributed the week of the event. These kits will be distributed to vulnerable individuals within our community by The Salvation Army, with the generous support of Calgary businesses and supporters.

They will contain a healthy lunch as well as winter essentials such as mitts, toques, socks and hygiene items.

We hope that Calgarians will continue to support The Salvation Army’s annual Christmas Kettle Campaign as in years previous. The Kettle Campaign will run from November 13th to December 24th at locations throughout Calgary and surrounding areas. Donations can also be made online at FillTheKettle.com.

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Jon Horsman Discusses the Advantages of ATB Capital Markets ATB gives local businesses access to investment banking with Alberta roots and a global reach. Services include investment and corporate banking, sales and trading, institutional research, and risk management. Jon Horsman, senior executive vice president, Business ATB Financial and CEO ATB Capital Markets Inc., shares what to expect from ATB’s newest offering, ATB Capital Markets.

How did ATB Capital Markets originate?

ATB was an investor and minority shareholder in AltaCorp Capital since it was founded a decade ago. This year, AltaCorp became a wholly-owned subsidiary of ATB, allowing us to merge their team with ATB’s corporate finance teams to create a highly specialized group of experts.

What types of businesses does ATB Capital Markets serve?

ATB has a long history supporting the business community.

We currently enjoy over 20 per cent market share in Alberta. Many of our clients are high-growth and highpotential companies that need access to strategic advice, help scaling their business, and capital beyond what a bank can provide—that’s where ATB Capital Markets comes in.

We’re the right fit for companies looking for expert advice on how to grow and scale, manage risk or access to other forms of capital.

What sets ATB Capital Markets apart?

ATB has always had a deep, viable role in Alberta’s business community. Our trusted relationships with our clients, our deep industry expertise, our great team, and our commitment to the Alberta economy have been the foundation of ATB’s business offering. We understand the structure and cycles of Alberta’s economy. Traditionally, our clients had to go outside ATB for capital market services.

ATB Capital Markets provides an integrated experience and is here to help businesses through their entire lifecycle— from startup to growth to successful exit.

Why is it important to have a relationshipbuilding approach?

We believe business relationships are built on both trust and advisory experience. ATB is deeply aligned with our clients in terms of values, business practices, and decision making. We see this when we support our clients in different jurisdictions around the globe. For example, one of Alberta’s biggest

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companies finds that when they bring the “home team” of professionals, including ATB, with them for capital, structure and advice, they obtain better financial outcomes.

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Why is professional advice important for preserving wealth during the pandemic and its economic complications?

Historically, Albertans have learned to successfully navigate a cyclical economy, specifically in agriculture and energy.

The economic consequences of the pandemic are more far reaching than a traditional industry cycle. Many of our clients are looking for advice to preserve the value of their company, retain their employees and, if possible, strengthen their businesses. At the same time, we are on the cusp of a significant intergenerational shift as Baby Boomers look to transition out of their business. ATB Capital Markets can facilitate the transition to maximize wealth retention and business viability.

Why choose ATB Capital Markets?

ATB Capital Markets is deeply rooted in the Alberta business community and can bring global solutions to our clients. ATB Capital Markets is here to meet the deep need our clients have for expert advice and access to capital. It’s a challenging environment and ATB is here to help create better businesses, better industries and to make it possible for our clients.

ABOVE: JON HORSMAN, SENIOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, ATB BUSINESS & CEO, ATB CAPITAL MARKETS.

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We’ve got big news for big business— just when you need it most.

Dear Alberta businesses, We're committed to helping world-class businesses thrive in Alberta and on a global stage. We've recently combined corporate banking with trusted capital markets advisory experts to serve mid-to-large businesses and institutional investors.

ATB Capital Markets goes beyond borders with offices in Denver, Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton, and is uniquely driven to support Canadian businesses and industries—the heart of our economy.

We've evolved to deliver the specialized expertise, deep industry knowledge and seamless collaboration you're looking for. We welcome a challenge, and we take earning your trust as seriously as you take your business.

Finding innovative solutions to the complex challenges of your financial needs isn’t just what sets us apart, it’s what we live for. And today it's needed more than ever. So when you’re ready for an exceptional capital markets experience—led by a company built to help Albertans for over 83 years—we invite you to put us to the test. See what we’re all about at atbcapitalmarkets.com Sincerely,

Jon Horsman

Senior Executive Vice President, ATB Business CEO, ATB Capital Markets

ATB Capital Markets is a member of IIROC | CIPF | FINRA | SIPC.

BUSINESS AND SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE // SUCCESSION PLANNING

BUSINESS AND SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

BY BETHANY NEUFELD

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OVID-19 put a halt on a number of projects and business plans in the works. At ground level, many employees are now well-adjusted to the work-fromhome lifestyle or the additional health protocols at work, but how has the global health pandemic impacted things when it comes to planning and succession?

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NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

Should we split our assets evenly between the kids?

Have you shielded your children from inheriting any business debt?

We ask the meaningful questions. To provide you with more meaningful advice. At Ogilvie, we dig deeper and bring together some of the brightest legal minds to deliver creative and comprehensive solutions. As you navigate through these challenging times, your estate and asset management planning is particularly critical. Because the only measure of success that matters to us is yours.

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BUSINESS AND SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE // SUCCESSION PLANNING

“THE CURRENT PANDEMIC HAS PROVIDED A LEADERSHIP TEST FOR MANY AND HAS, IN MANY WAYS, HELPED IN IDENTIFYING FUTURE SUCCESSORS,” SAYS HUSSEY. “THE PANDEMIC HAS SHOWCASED LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL, AND HIGHLIGHTED DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS.”

struggled significantly. It’s really called attention to the need of leaders to be adaptable and to develop leadership skills like communication and flexibility.”

Greg Hussey, President of Impact HR, has seen the rippleeffect of COVID-19 on business succession planning. As businesses around the province sprint to keep up with ongoing changes brought on by the global health pandemic, opportunities for leadership skills to shine are a plenty; but in turn, gaps in business planning and crisis management are having their own time in the limelight.

“The current pandemic has provided a leadership test for many and has, in many ways, helped in identifying future successors,” says Hussey. “The pandemic has showcased leadership potential, and highlighted development opportunity for others.”

From Hussey’s perspective, leadership and communication skills will be key characteristics companies will be looking for in future business leaders. While both are skills that have always been major attributes for anyone in the professional world, COVID-19 has placed an even more intense spotlight on these soft abilities.

“During the transition to a remote workforce, we’ve seen leaders demonstrate a keen ability to adapt while others have

In addition to leadership skills, being able to adapt to an increasingly modernizing professional environment is crucial. As work forces adjusts to digital environments and home office setups, adaptability paired with keen digital savviness has pronounced salience in today’s working world.

“COVID is very much forcing companies to re-evaluate their plans and revisit leadership competencies in a relatively new, remote, and digital work force,” Hussey says. “We have been living in a digital world for 20 years now, and some companies have taken too long to adapt. COVID has expedited this transformation. Companies have to adapt to the digital workforce.”

COVID-19 has thrown its fair share of challenges at business. If there is some good to come out of the pandemic, it is a push for companies to update policies and ensure they are well-prepared for whatever the future may bring.

“Generally speaking, companies are probably in better shape now in terms of business continuity than pre-COVID. COVID has forced them to adapt plans to account for emergencies and crisis,” Hussey shares. “Many of these frameworks have not been taken seriously, and now there is a spotlight on it. The pandemic has forced companies to implement proactive planning mechanisms to ensure the business is nimble and can respond to a crisis.”

ABOVE: GREG HUSSEY, PRESIDENT, IMPACT HR.

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NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

What’s in your 5 year plan?

If it includes transitioning your business to new owners, start planning today.

As a business owner, there is a lot to consider when thinking about selling your business. KPMG Enterprise advisers can help you navigate the process and help ensure you are making the right decisions for your future.

To find out more, speak with a KPMG business transition adviser today.

Nicole Osolinsky KPMG Tax Partner T: 780-429-7343 E: nosolinsky@kpmg.ca kpmg.ca/enterprise

Š 2020 KPMG LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. 28107

BUSINESS AND SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE // SUCCESSION PLANNING

“PIVOT HAS BEEN THE WORD OF THE YEAR, AND COVID-19 HAS SHONE A BIG FLASHLIGHT ON ALL THE CRACKS IN BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES,” WAGNER SAYS. “MANY DEALS AND PLANS HAVE BEEN PAUSED OR HALTED ENTIRELY, AND IT CREATED A LOT OF PANIC AND FEAR AROUND REVENUE AND LONG-TERM PLANNING.”

digital is at the top of the priority list for those wanting to make it out unscathed. When it comes to valuating a business during these trying times, Wagner identifies the importance of having a robust online presence.

It should come as no surprise that business plans have been interrupted by the pandemic. As industries scramble to adjust their approach to day-to-day operations and keep up with the evolving situation, the even greater task of restructuring and revaluating businesses is ongoing.

Though aspects of our lives seem to be in limbo, the ebbs and flows of the provincial economy never cease. Amanda Wagner, Founder and Lead Educator of The Complement, has kept busy as a consultant for local businesses, applying her skillset to help companies keep their plans on track amidst the ongoing ambiguity that is COVID-19.

“Pivot has been the word of the year, and COVID-19 has shone a big flashlight on all the cracks in businesses of all sizes,” Wagner says. “Many deals and plans have been paused or halted entirely, and it created a lot of panic and fear around revenue and long-term planning. People are focused solely on surviving, when before the pandemic, so many people set out that 2020 was going to be the year to thrive.”

The global health pandemic has caused quite a stir in the local economy, and perhaps more than ever before, going

“Businesses who have relied on an in-person presence or brick and mortar offers have been challenged to look at how they can translate their work online and how to generate revenue, even if their storefront or office is closed,” Wagner shares. “Businesses with an existing online presence, a thoughtful customer experience, and a customer base that can generate revenue will be able to higher value their businesses.”

While online marketplaces have always presented stark competition for businesses around the province, COVID-19 has exasperated that challenge and those without a foot in the digital world may find themselves lagging behind.

“Companies are having to prove how they can still offer value and generate revenue, even if their doors are closed.

Business owners are examining their marketing, the value they offer to their clients, and how they can keep their business fresh in people’s minds, when we are inundated with so many options available online,” she explains. “The businesses that will survive are the ones who are willing to ask these hard questions, consider what is essential in their businesses, and can build a stream of predictable revenue while ensuring that their customers are delighted and sharing their positive experiences.”

ABOVE: AMANDA WAGNER, FOUNDER & LEAD EDUCATOR, THE COMPLEMENT.

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NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

Mosaic would like to thank their strategic partners for the generous support for our corporate history editorial in the October 2020 issue of Business in Edmonton.

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BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // NOVEMBER 2020

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BUSINESS AND SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE // SUCCESSION PLANNING

“YOU LOOK AT IT AS PART OF A STORY INSTEAD OF THE WHOLE STORY,” HE SHARES. “FROM THE OIL CRASH, TO THE ECONOMIC CRASH, AND NOW THE PANDEMIC. PEOPLE STILL WANT TO BUILD. PEOPLE STILL WANT TO WORK. PEOPLE WANT TO GET OUT AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.”

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“Outstanding students, outstanding results.”

COVID-19 has presented unique challenges for entrepreneurs and business owners around the province, but those with a drive to excel are finding opportunities for growth amidst the chaos.

Curtis Hrdlicka is no stranger to change or the business succession process. Hrdlicka entered the construction industry in 2013 and joined Enerpan, a Leduc-based firm specializing in design, engineering, manufacturing, and supply for multiple construction industries, as a consultant in 2016. Alongside his business partners, Hrdlicka found himself in a position to buy the company in late 2016, and they jumped at the chance.

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PERFORMING ARTS, VISUAL ARTS & TECHNOLOGY We are committed to maintaining a caring and creative environment that fosters the natural curiosity to learn.

The pandemic has certainly come with its challenges, but as explained by Hrdlicka, it has also created opportunity for innovators.

“People are starting to listen to innovators, more so than before when those opinions may have

ABOVE: CURTIS HRDLICKA, ENERPAN.

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NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

gone against the grain,” he notes.

“There are people that are high agency in this world. There are people that take the way things are and look at it as a sub-section of the way the world is. You look at it as part of a story instead of the whole story,” he shares. “From the oil crash, to the economic crash, and now the pandemic.

People still want to build. People still want to work. People want to get out and create opportunities in their communities.”

Navigating the turbulent waters of the global health pandemic has been no easy feat, but the business owner stresses the importance of open communication, teamwork, and community-mindedness.

“Something COVID-19 has done is expose weaknesses in our social, political, and economic frameworks that need to be re-examined,” Hrdlicka says. “You have to adapt as you realize things are changing.

I think businesses will be quick to change and we will see market expansion. Businesses that look to answer a current or future need will get more of a response.”

With COVID-19 giving no indication of leaving soon, businesses continue to re-evaluate their approaches and plan for a future shrouded by uncertainty.

What that future may bring is unclear, but with careful planning and a willingness to adapt, there is capacity for it to spark change and generate much needed growth.

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Join us … as we FORGE OUR FUTURE together

2020 Board of Directors Board Executive

Chair: Bryan DeNeve Senior Vice President, Business Development and Commercial Services, Capital Power Vice Chair: Elan MacDonald Senior Vice President, National Client Development, Global Public Affairs Secretary-Treasurer: Craig Thorkelsson Head of Tax, PCL Constructors Inc. Past Chair: Dawn Harsch President and CEO, ExquisiCare Senior Living and Care at Home Janet M. Riopel President & CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

Board Directors

Haydar Al Dahhan President and CEO, Design Works Engineering Nathan Carter Vice President, Operations Audit, ATCO Sandy Jacobson Vice President, Richardson Executive Search Annemarie Petrov President and CEO, Francis Winspear Centre for Music Dennis R. Schmidt Principal, ALTURA Legal Advisory Jeffrey Sundquist Chief Executive Officer, EDC Environmental Group of Companies Inc. Dr. Jenelle Trenchuk-Saik President and CEO, Parker Ford and Mackay Specialty Opticians

Edmonton Chamber Executive

Scott Channon Director, Marketing and Communications Brent Francis Director, Advocacy and Outreach Christen Rumbles Director, Finance Amin Samji Director, Member Services Kevin Thomas Director, Operations

Contact

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce #600 – 9990 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, AB T5J 1P7 T: 780.426.4620 | F: 780.424.7946 edmontonchamber.com

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By Janet M. Riopel, President & CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has created incredible challenges for Alberta’s job creators, their families, and our governments. As we continue to grapple with these challenges the Edmonton Chamber has embarked on an initiative to develop recommendations for governments to consider as they chart a path forward to a brighter, more prosperous future.

We brought together business leaders from across a wide range of industries alongside representatives from various nonprofits and institutions in our city.

Over 150 individuals participated in our consultation process through roundtable discussions held over three months. We worked with experts, stakeholders, and our member-driven policy committees and task forces to understand the opportunities and challenges facing our community. We also conducted public opinion research to measure and capture the pulse of the broader Edmonton business community.

Throughout these discussions, job creators told us repeatedly that we cannot return to the way things were. They told us that there is no solid foundation to rebuild upon. We’ve struggled through many years of anemic economic growth, limited access to global markets for oil and gas, rising downtown vacancies, and unacceptably high levels of unemployment. Instead, we must grasp the unique opportunities the COVID-19 pandemic has created in order to forge a future of long-term stability, prosperity, and quality of life for us all.

In October, we put forward a set of focused and thoughtful policy recommendations – entitled Forging Our Future – that will set our city, this province, and our country up to be more stable, more resilient, and more inclusive so we can emerge from this pandemic stronger than before. These recommendations rest on eight key pillars: 1. Respond to the COVID-19 pandemic Businesses face significant challenges, and most continue to feel the impact of the pandemic each day. Government programs must be flexible and accessible, and should focus on getting people back to work, assisting businesses with fixed costs, and providing businesses with as much certainty as possible.

2. Prioritize an Inclusive Recovery for All COVID-19 has created an opportunity for us to reimagine our future. We see one that is inclusive, provides economic opportunities for those who have historically been excluded, and grows the pie for us all. This includes engaging marginalized communities in decision making, improving the affordability of childcare, and investing in infrastructure that supports our communities.

NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

3. Secure our Fiscal Future While government spending and support programs are critical right now, we must not lose sight of the fiscal challenges on the horizon. We recommend a review of the Canadian tax system and a review of Alberta’s revenue sources, including consideration of a consumption tax.

6. Support Market Access and Trade As a province that relies heavily on export markets, trade will remain fundamental to our success. We must aggressively dismantle internal trade barriers, facilitate market access through export promotion of a multitude of industries, and develop infrastructure that facilitates interprovincial and international trade.

4. Advance Diversification and Innovation Edmonton’s entrepreneurial and innovative spirit knows no bounds, but must be supported by an environment that allows ideas to blossom and businesses to thrive. With the right policies in place, we can allocate our resources, skills, and brainpower to harness opportunities across sectors, making us a world-class leader within and beyond our major traditional sectors. If we seize these opportunities with a strong strategy, we can attract much-needed investment from around the globe to both build on our existing strengths and grow new industries, creating stability in our economy. Alberta is already among the most competitive places to invest in North America, with low taxes and low energy costs, enhancing the stability of our economy will serve to make our province a magnet for international investors.

7. Invest in a Low Carbon Economy Alberta has proven that we can be leaders in both energy production and environmental protection. However, being trade-exposed means we are often competing with others that don’t have the same regulatory and fiscal burdens. To combat this, the federal government, provincial government, and industry must come together as partners to invest in innovation, support leading technology, and facilitate commercialization of emissions-reduction solutions.

5. Close the Skills Gap The future of work that we had imagined to be far on the horizon is actually approaching at a rapid pace, just as our economic situation is. It will be imperative that Albertans have the opportunity and skills needed to retool and succeed in the new economy that lies ahead. Our highly skilled, entrepreneurial, and agile labour force must remain one of our key competitive advantages.

Stay connected.

Follow us and be up-to-date with events, policies, member news and more.

8. Enhance Alberta’s Competitive Position as a Destination to Live, Work, and Visit Edmonton is competitive not only economically, but also as a world-class city that attracts people to live, work, and travel. However, without ongoing investments in arts and culture, infrastructure, public transit, and green spaces, we risk losing our competitive edge, which is a significant factor in attracting the talent we desperately need for the future success of our healthy community.

Please take a few minutes today to read our full set of recommendations at edmontonchamber.com.

We know that by taking the right steps today, we can set our province up for incredible success in the years to come. With conviction, purpose, and dedication, we can create a more prosperous horizon for all Albertans. Join us, as we Forge Our Future together.

@EdmontonChamber edmontonchamber.com

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // NOVEMBER 2020

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Memberships that help your business.

It’s what we do.

As a member of one of the largest chambers in Canada, you have access to a wide range of contacts, resources, discounts, events, and brand exposure.

You’re also part of our strong collective voice to government that will help give your business the support it needs.

Call us today at 780.426.4620 and start leveraging your membership.

edmontonchamber.com

tradition ends and innovation begins. From butter chicken pierogi to wild mushroom and truffle to dessert pierogi, we have something for every customer and craving.

Loaded Pierogi Member Profile Brianna Kuspira, Owner, Loaded Pierogi www.loadedpierogi.com What’s your story?

We joined the Loaded Pierogi family in December of 2018. Before opening Loaded Pierogi in Edmonton, Brianna worked for over a decade in Human Resources and Curtis owned an insurance brokerage in Edmonton.

Both of us have always had a passion for good food, and more importantly pierogi! Pierogi meals were always a staple for us growing up in Edmonton and a part of almost every celebratory event. We quickly discovered that Edmonton was missing a fun and innovative pierogi restaurant. We also knew not everyone has a Baba or the time to make them— especially with mouthwatering toppings!

Throughout all avenues of our business, we pride ourselves on treating others as you would want to be treated, offering great customer service, and setting the bar with exceptionally high standards.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce?

As an Edmonton Chamber member, it has been great to meet and network with new people and fellow entrepreneurs in the City.

What is one thing people are surprised to learn about your business?

There are six locations across Canada! Once we heard about Loaded Pierogi, we were on a flight to Toronto to meet the founders and were instantly hooked after their first interview.

We fell in love with Loaded Pierogi, the people, and the brand. After an orientation and learning about the franchise’s history, we were confident they shared the same passion for pierogis. From there, we quickly set out to bring the pierogi love to the Capital City!

Who is your ideal client?

Anyone who loves trying new food and pierogi! We like to say that Loaded Pierogi is where

What has been your biggest challenge in business, and how did you overcome it?

One of our greatest challenges has been marketing and spreading the word on Loaded Pierogi. While we know the pierogi is a beloved favourite, many Edmontonians hadn’t heard about our Jasper Avenue location. To start the buzz, we started creating engaging content across our social media channels. Here, we not only ensure the content is up-to-date but also encourages local people to interact with our posts. We have also created a loyalty program and frequently utilize e-mail marketing to communicate with our subscribers. In our inaugural year, we participated in a handful of downtown events – from the Cariwest Festival to TheWorks Art Festival.

What is your favourite thing to do in Edmonton?

When we’re not spreading Loaded Pierogi love, we can be found spending time with our daughter, our family, our dog, and enjoying winter watching the Edmonton Oilers and summers on the golf course. Plus enjoying many of the local events and festivals Edmonton has to offer.

If you could make one substantial improvement to Edmonton’s business environment, what would it be?

We need to diversify our economy with innovative technology companies and support them along the way.

Let’s entice innovators to come to Edmonton!

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BRENT HESJE: FUELED BY PARTNERSHIPS, DRIVEN BY PASSION // COVER

BRENT HESJE:

FUELED BY PARTNERSHIPS, DRIVEN BY PASSION THE CEO OF FOUNTAIN TIRE EXPLAINS WHY PARTNERSHIPS ARE THE KEY ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

F

ountain Tire is an Edmonton-based company with 160 stores among select cities in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. Overseeing it all is Brent Hesje, CEO and a recent Tire Industry Association Hall of Fame inductee. He’s enjoying a wonderful career that has spanned many roles, both in business and in the community, and his work has taken him through many of Canada’s top cities. Through it all there are two things he knows for sure: partnerships are essential to success, and Edmonton is the place he loves to call home.

Hesje joined Fountain Tire in 1992 as the marketing manager.

“I was with a multinational consumer goods company and they were talking a lot about partnerships, but more in a figurative sense,” he says. “A fundamental feature of Fountain Tire are the partnerships, and I found that very attractive.”

In addition to a partnership with Goodyear Canada, applicable managers are offered a 50/50 partnership in their stores. This practice was put into place by Bill Fountain, who founded the company in 1956.

Hesje got started with the brand when his uncle, who was working with Fountain Tire, let him know about an opening for a marketing manager. Despite liking the brand promise, deep culture of collaboration, and the business model, Hesje came to the conclusion that joining the company wasn’t for him. However, his wife suggested that he would deeply

regret not working with a private company and his uncle added that this was a workplace culture where Hesje could truly be himself.

“I’m glad I listened!” Hesje smiles as he reflects on the past. “My wife and uncle knew I was more of a private company guy than I did!” What came next was nearly 30 years with Fountain Tire to date, including a role as the vice president of marketing, company share ownership, and an appointment to CEO in 2005.

But it hasn’t been easy.

“For the first few days,” Hesje remembers, “I was concerned.

My background was as a sales manager and they were looking for a marketing manager. My first trip into the heartland of Fountain Tire included time and meetings with 50 of the partners. I had to use persuasion as to why marketing should be considered an investment and not an expense. There was a lot of wisdom in that field; they all came together and allowed us to create one of Canada’s greatest brands, right here in Edmonton.”

A great product and great partnerships meant the ability to expand.

Hesje says, “We came to recognize that we had a great business model we could export. For someone like me that

RIGHT: BRENT HESJE, CEO, FOUNTAIN TIRE PHOTO SOURCE: EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY INC.

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BRENT HESJE: FUELED BY PARTNERSHIPS, DRIVEN BY PASSION // COVER

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BRENT HESJE: FUELED BY PARTNERSHIPS, DRIVEN BY PASSION // COVER

grew up in the prairies, this made me very proud. So, we started to move the product outside of Alberta, scaling up into communities across Canada.”

In addition to being the CEO of Fountain Tire, Hesje is passionate about community partnerships both personally and in his role with the company. He sits on the boards of the Edmonton Football Club and ONEC Group; is a member of the Edwards School of Business’ Dean Circle; was involved with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) as a board member, chair, and advisor for more than 11 years; and is a past board member/chair of the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council, The Support Network, and Western Canadian Tire Dealers – to name a few.

“Serving has made me a better CEO and being a CEO has made me a better board member,” says Hesje. “In service I have never found, despite trying, a situation where I gave more than I got. It’s wonderful to be able to go out into the community and make a contribution.”

His many years at NAIT have given him insight into the next generation of the workforce, and Hesje is excited about how Edmonton’s young people are gearing up for the future.

“In a polytechnic like NAIT, there is a real partnership with business,” he explains. “I think over half the students at NAIT now already have some post-secondary education before enrolling. They are coming into NAIT to fine tune their profession and contribute to their communities.”

“One thing I’ve seen with Fountain Tire as we navigate through COVID,” he continues, “is resilience, and that is because a lot of businesses are run by young people. There is a resiliency about young people that bodes well for the future of the country.

Fundamental to resilience is adaptability. To be adaptable, you must be innovative. This generation checks all those boxes.”

The many contributions to business, community, and charity have not gone unnoticed. While Hesje is very humble about his achievements, he feels honoured to have received, among other recognitions, both a Northern Lights award and the induction into the Tire Industry Association Hall of Fame.

“The Northern Lights Award was very meaningful for me because it capped off and validated my decision to join

Fountain Tire. When you look at some of the other people that have received that award, being recognized was quite an honour. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame was also quite an honour. The award was presented in Las Vegas and I was proud of getting international recognition for our fine city of Edmonton. There were previous recipients there from all over the world and from all different parts of the tire business.

Being in business, and in Edmonton, for so many years, Hesje has dealt with many challenges. Now he faces one that is affecting the world in devastating ways. How does he feel about Alberta’s business community during COVID-19 and a rapidly changing political and economic landscape?

“You just don’t count Alberta out, and Edmonton is key to that attitude,” he says firmly. “Of all the nine cities I’ve lived in in Canada, and they were all awesome, I don’t know that I fully felt at home until I came to Edmonton. I really appreciate the down-to-earth nature of Edmonton. Here you can’t tell who has wealth and influence. I like that; it shows humility.

Edmonton is not a small city, but it has a community feel. You have thought leaders, community leaders, and driven folks that take action. It’s wonderful to be a part of it.

ABOVE: HESJE RECEIVES THE NORTHERN LIGHTS AWARD OF DISTINCTION AT THE 2019 CHAMBER BALL. PHOTO SOURCE: THE EDMONTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

We’re investing in our communities — and you can, too.

Support local businesses, strengthen our economy, and let’s bring our communities closer together.

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BRENT HESJE: FUELED BY PARTNERSHIPS, DRIVEN BY PASSION // COVER

“I’ve lived half my life in Alberta but even before that, I saw how the province would deal with ups and downs, and how it always seemed to be the last province helped by others.

There is an inner strength in our province and a sense that we are in this together. There is deep pride in Alberta leading into opportunity and out of challenging times. Everywhere you turn, you see adaptability. Edmontonians have a history of picking each other up in hard times, on a business level, as entrepreneurs, and with a collaborative spirit.”

He pauses, then laughs, “Maybe it’s the long winters that make us so resilient!”

As a tire dealer, Hesje takes winter very seriously.

“Our business is one with high stakes if the work is preformed incorrectly. Customers need to trust that things are being done safely and with the highest level of skill.

This is why we are not looking for absentee partnerships and owners. We are serious when we say, ‘we are on this

road together.’ Whether you drive a light passenger vehicle, commercial truck, or a combine, we partner with you so you don’t have to find solutions on your own. To do this we have to build long-term relationships. That takes time, but we grow the relationship and learn together.”

He continues, “I think it’s very important to spend as much time as you can learning from others and being coachable.

My definition of surrounding yourself with great people is not just people that work for you, but people that coach you and teach you. I spent a lifetime with the belief that the biggest thing I do is make decisions on who we partner with.

The vast majority of the time, being a partner with someone in business makes you stronger than being on your own. The death of a partnership is when one side expects the other to be perfect. At Fountain Tire, we strive to improve every year.

There is something perfect about improving together.”

Thanks to those partnerships over the many years, Hesje has many people he’d like to thank for influencing his journey. In ABOVE: HESJE AT THE 2019 TIRE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (TIA) HALL OF FAME RECEPTION. RIGHT: HESJE AT THE 2019 TIRE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (TIA) HALL OF FAME RECEPTION.

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BRENT HESJE: FUELED BY PARTNERSHIPS, DRIVEN BY PASSION // COVER

“RIGHT NOW, AND EVEN MORE THAN USUAL, WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE SAFETY OF OUR CUSTOMERS AS WE NAVIGATE THE PANDEMIC,” HE SAYS. “MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICE WORKERS, AND WE HELP MAINTAIN THEIR EMERGENCY addition to clients, store owners, and his family, he thanks the Fountain Tire board of directors.

Fountain Tire has been an Edmonton-based success story for more than 60 years, and with Hesje at the helm, the story of this brand keeps driving forward.

“Right now, and even more than usual, we are focusing on the safety of our customers as we navigate the pandemic,” he says. “Many of our customers are essential service workers, and we help maintain their emergency vehicles as well as their personal vehicles. It’s important to help those folks get to where they need to go safely.

“In the longer term, we are focusing on more customercentric initiatives and technologies. We have recently rolled out a Digital Vehicle Report, representing the gold standard in customer communication. It allows us to show exactly what is going on in our customers’ vehicles by showing them on their own cell phone or computer. This facilitates a discussion about the vehicle. We’re finding when a customer can see what needs to be done, they’re more likely to make needed repairs, which increases safety on the road.

“We also keep pushing to remain a top employer and have started to get interest from universities about doing co-ops.

We continue to grow our robust training and professional development programs. Because our model is so unique, we have the ability to do some internal things to help advance management. Our aim is to teach success through education with future store managers; our DRIVE and Manger in Training programs help qualified managers to become successful store owners. Becoming a partner is not just a

VEHICLES AS WELL AS THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLES. IT’S IMPORTANT TO HELP THOSE FOLKS GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO SAFELY. financial decision. Responsibility and maturity are required.”

A major component of Fountain Tire’s future development is in product sustainability, something Hesje is very excited about.

“We have plans for growing our retread offering, which is an opportunity for reuse,” he informs. “We are also working with our customers to understand maintenance schedules, which help minimize a driver’s footprint. Right now, at best, just 50 per cent of vehicles on Canadian roads have fulfilled maintenance as per their owner’s manual. We have an opportunity to help build our brand by simply doing the right things.”

For the man and the business, doing the right thing means creating one solution, then moving right onto another.

“There is more work to be done,” Hesje concludes. “There are more opportunities for expansion and for successions at the store level.

We have younger managers taking over from seasoned managers and we must make sure that wisdom is transferred. We always want to leave the business better than how we entered it.”

Fountain Tire, and Hesje, are intent on fulfilling the company’s core purpose “helping people get there – safely, sustainably, and successfully,” and they will continue to do so one partnership at a time.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // NOVEMBER 2020

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PREVENTING THE WORKDAY’S ACHES, PAINS AND EYE STRAINS // HEALTH CARE

PREVENTING THE I WORKDAY’S ACHES, PAINS AND EYE STRAINS

BY BETHANY NEUFELD

t is no secret the global health pandemic has had several impacts on professional environments, and perhaps the most challenging change for some has been the shift to working from home. While setting the alarm clock forward a few minutes and working in your pajamas may seem like a dream for employees, the home office can quickly lead to an increased sedentary lifestyle.

It may not seem like sitting in front of a computer would take a toll on one’s body, but the health impacts of desk work can be more severe than we might imagine. With many employees setting up shop at home, the average nine-to-five workday sees little movement between getting up to go to the bathroom and refilling the coffee mug.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // NOVEMBER 2020

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PREVENTING THE WORKDAY’S ACHES, PAINS, AND EYE STRAINS // HEALTH CARE

Tia McLean, an intern physiotherapist at MVMT Physio & Chiro, reports that the clinic has seen an increase in clients reporting shoulder and back injuries since the pandemic swept the area back in March.

“Any type of shoulder injury is common with those forward reaching postures, like reaching in front of you for a keyboard, and sustained posture often seen in sedentary desk work,” she shares. In addition to stiff and sore shoulders, McLean notes that desk work is a common culprit for producing poor posture, leading to increased headaches, lower back pain, and overall discomfort.

Fortunately, all is not lost for home office workers and preventing back pain starts in the computer chair.

“I recommend you don’t keep any posture more than 30 minutes. There’s a saying I like to tell my patients, which is ‘your best posture is your next posture,’” McLean says.

“Every 30 minutes get up, even if it’s a two-minute lap of the office or quick stretches in your chair. Try to do some posture correcting exercises and shoulder blade squeezes.”

While anyone stationed in front of a computer is prone to kinks in their neck here and there, McLean notes age is a significant factor in back pain and injuries related to computer-based work. “One of the cruel jokes nature plays on us as we age is our muscles change composition. The movement of sitting to standing takes quite a bit of power and as you age, you lose some of the power in your muscles and movements. If you are an older individual spending a lot of time sitting, that’s going to get worse. If you have no power muscles, that’s when people are more likely to experience a fall at home.”

Although McLean shares concern over the risks associated with desk work, it is noted that prevention is key and there

are several ways workers at home can adjust their workspace to promote physical health. “Make sure your keyboard is not too far in front of you and your computer is at eye level.

Take a look at where you are sitting on your chair. Are you slouching? If your back is the shape of a ‘C’, that’s probably not good for you.”

Preventing back pain at home does not need to be a complicated endeavor. Prevention can be as simple as finding everyday items around the house to adapt to your needs.

A simple but effective measure is rolling up a towel and placing it in the small of your back as you sit in front of the computer. McLean points out, “You don’t always need to spend money on tools to remedy back pain. Get creative!”

For those suffering from neck and back pain, seeking relief sooner rather than later goes a long way. When pain arrives, it is important to keep moving, be proactive, and treat your back pain before it has time to fester.

“Don’t take back pain lying down. If you have back pain, laying down is the worst thing you can do. Walking is one

ABOVE: DR. TROY BRADY, ALBERTA ASSOCIATION OF OPTOMETRISTS, PRESIDENT.

38

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PREVENTING THE WORKDAY’S ACHES, PAINS, AND EYE STRAINS // HEALTH CARE

of the best exercises for your back,” McLean says. “Be active; try moving around. Other than that, if you are in pain, don’t just assume it will get better or you have to live that way. You don’t need to live in pain.”

AS EXPLAINED BY DR. TROY

Stiff shoulders aren’t the only health issue computer-based workers have to keep an eye on. Between computers and mobile phones, workers often find themselves glued to a screen one way or another. With increased screen exposure comes increased risks for eye health. As explained by Dr. Troy Brady, president of the Alberta Association of Optometrists, extended periods of screen time can lead to symptoms associated with computer vision syndrome, which can include eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and neck and shoulder pain. So how can workers protect their eyes in the digital working environment? Maintaining good eye health starts with a visit to the optometrist.

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BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // NOVEMBER 2020

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PREVENTING THE WORKDAY’S ACHES, PAINS, AND EYE STRAINS // HEALTH CARE

“One of the best ways to avoid eye strain is to have a comprehensive eye examination and discuss lens options with your local optometrist. Your optometrist will be able to determine if you might benefit from corrective lens designs that would reduce the amount of work that the muscles of your eyes have to do in order to keep your screen clear,” Dr. Brady shares.

As it turns out, your trusty reading glasses may not make the cut when it comes to working in front of a screen all day.

“Eyeglasses or contact lenses prescribed for general use may not be adequate for computer work. Lenses prescribed to meet the unique visual demands of computer use may be needed. Special lens designs, lens powers, or lens tints or coatings may help to maximize your vision and comfort.”

In addition to checking in with your optometrist and updating your lenses, Dr. Brady notes there are steps those working from the computer can take to reduce eye strain.

“A general guideline is to take a 20 second break every 20 minutes where you look at least 20 feet or farther in the distance. It is also quite helpful to try and remember to blink frequently when looking at a computer screen for extended periods of time.”

For glasses wearers, the addition of a face mask to the work uniform can be a challenge. Discomfort and fogged up lenses are a regular battle for glasses wearers, but as explained by Dr. Brady, there are options available for those in need.

“There are some lenses that have anti-fog coatings that help reducing fogging that can happen with wearing masks. There are also some products that can be applied to lens surfaces that reduce the amount that eyeglass lenses will fog,” he shares. “These products can be purchased at optometric offices and applied to any type of lens to reduce fogging. Another advantage to these products is that when they are applied to a lens, the lens will be less likely to fog when entering a warm environment from a cold environment.”

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NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

Keeping up with your physical wellbeing during a global health pandemic isn’t always easy, but small steps go a long way in preventing injuries and longterm pain. Pin up a list of neck stretches by the computer, roll your shoulders, close your eyes once in awhile, get up and move between virtual meetings, and take your eyes periodically off the screen.

Staying on top of work throughout the day is important, but ensuring your body is looked after takes precedence.

THE MAKING OF A CORPORATE ATHLETE // RICK TIEDEMANN

The Making of a Corporate Athlete

BY RICK TIEDEMANN

I

n 2001, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz published an article in the Harvard Business Review called The Making of a Corporate Athlete. This article looked at high performing executives and high performing athletes across a broad spectrum of business sectors and athletic disciplines. In particular, they looked at the behaviours of each cohort and which behaviours impacted on their ability to perform at a high level on a sustained basis. A couple of the key nuggets that I extracted from this publication are: • Energy Exertion vs Energy Recovery – It became abundantly clear that athletes understood the performance value of interval training while executives did not. Athletes know that it is during the recovery phase that their bodies heal, strengthen and prepare to perform again. The executive audience disproportionately focused on energy expenditure with only putting in a halfhearted effort towards energy recovery. They are relentlessly linear in this respect and this often leads to burnout because they don’t take time to heal and strengthen.

• High Performance Pyramid – The athletes tended to have a more well defined behavioural recipe that they applied in a disciplined manner, whereas executives are more random.

My experience is that business leaders often have a decent awareness that their behaviours are compromising their health, but they then rationalize them for various reasons.

Jim and Tony identified four buckets or capacities that need to be consciously embraced and harmonized if we want to create the healthiest, happiest and highest performing version of ourselves. These behavioural buckets address our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual capacities. Within each of these individual capacities there are behaviours that will help us to optimize this capacity. An overview of these areas include: • Physical – Nutrition needs to be seen as fuel in order for our bodies to perform maximally. Sleep needs to be

prioritized as it is the ultimate high performance drug, as is regular exercise.

• Emotional – It is important that we create abundance for ourselves first thing in the morning. Be a possibilitarian and look at the world through a lens of opportunity.

Surround yourself with people that give you joy and take full responsibility for your situations.

• Mental – Practice mindfulness and no, it won’t make you go soft and cause you to lose your competitive edge. Set some very clear and disciplined boundaries so that your energy exertion behaviours don’t bleed into your energy recovery time. Build a supportive group of individuals around you and create mini-intervals within your day where you can experience joy.

• Spiritual – Identify your purpose, set targets around this purpose and prioritize your activities so that you achieve these targets. It is also important that we make a shift away from engagements that just create pleasure and over to those that deliver joy.

When I speak for various leadership groups and organizations, we take the time to identify very practical ways that we can adopt these behaviours within a very demanding business and personal landscape. During our time with COVID-19, I have witnessed many business leaders that have chosen to consciously adopt these corporate athlete behaviours and have subsequently told me that they haven’t felt this good in years. This tells me that they have made the decision to burn bright vs burn out and bless everyone in their circles with the absolute best version of themselves.

Please feel free to connect with me if you and your leadership team want to explore the corporate athlete program further.

Until then, I wish you the best of health.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // NOVEMBER 2020

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Photo by Rebecca Lippiatt

STRATA ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

By Nerissa McNaughton

W

ith more than a decade of experience, a Consumers Choice Award on the mantle, a perfect five star rating on Google, and onestop shop service, Strata Electrical Contracting is a leading electrical contractor and service provider in the city. Launched in 2010 by Anthony Pedatella, Master Electrician, and Janene Padatella, B.A. (Hons), the coowners are thrilled with the trajectory of the company. “We both bring a large skill set to the table. Anthony is a Master Electrician, natural businessman, and a great estimator and project manager. I have a degree in political science and a background in accounting, so I

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strategize and do the numbers. We both do what we are naturally good at and it suits us well. We founded Strata Electrical Contracting in an effort to do what we are both good at. We think it was meant to be,� says Janene. Our vision has always been to be an Edmonton electrical company able to meet the needs of the clients we serve.

Our core personal values of excellence, responsiveness, accountability and growth are imbedded in the company.

As the years have passed, we have learned a lot as small business owners and we remain excited about the work we do, the clients we serve, and the people we work with.

We love what we do. When you call us for electrical, you are our priority and we want to serve you well because

we care about our business and we are glad that you called and chose us.”

Strata Electrical provides restoration, property management, commercial, residential and emergency services. Anthony notes, “Our electricians are highly skilled. We have completed some difficult projects in the city and our service work can be quite challenging at times. We are known by the inspectors’ group for getting some very difficult restoration jobs, such as properties with damaged electrical wiring from fires or floods. We get those job done and done well. We like that because it makes us better each time, and it makes us feel good that we can help rebuild and put back together something that has been damaged.”

“We are responsive,” Janene shares of one of the many reasons why Strata Electrical is so successful.

“When you need to get your electrical deficiencies repaired or your power restored or get your small or big project estimated or booked in, we strive to make the communication on it as efficient as possible. We answer when called or emailed, are there when we say we will be, and we bill same day of job completion.” She laughs, “You can always get a hold of Anthony. Anyone that works with us knows what that means and the value that it brings, and in the industries we serve, that means a lot.”

“Without our knowledgeable, dedicated and hardworking team we could not service the project managers and property managers in the restoration, property management, homeowners and retail industries that rely on us to be responsive and complete the work well.

Our primary suppliers and partners make sure we have the materials and equipment necessary to do the job and the marketing and admin to make sure we get the opportunities and stay in business.”

Strata Electrical continues to meet each challenge and each success with professionalism and experience.

They both conclude, “During the pandemic we are hoping to strengthen our processes and procedures so that we can even better serve our existing clients. We have added additional team members who bring new strengths and we hope to incorporate them into our business. If we could tell our clients just one thing, it would be this: Thank You.”

#1, 11830 152 St. Edmonton, AB T5V-1E3 (780) 893-3902

strataelectrical.com

Apart from successful projects, happy clients and service awards, both Anthony and Janene feel rewarded by, “seeing how everybody working together doing what they are good at makes our clients call us back and allows us to continue to provide employment for everyone.” And, Janene adds, “Anthony and I both run the company and we love working together, so that’s been a blessing.”

They enjoy working in Edmonton, which they say feels like a small town.

“We were both born and raised in Edmonton and we love knowing the city so well, seeing it grow, and having our projects and service work take place in neighbourhoods throughout Edmonton,” say Anthony and Janene.

Part of living and working in the community is supporting it, something Strata Electrical is happy to do.

“There are two associations we are a part of: Edmonton Electrical Contractors Association and Edmonton Residential Landlord Association,” shares Janene.

“We have also supported numerous charitable events throughout the years. We feel it is important to support organizations and causes related to the electrical industry and to our clients.”

While proud of their 2020 Consumer Choice Award and 100+ reviews that have given them a five-star rating, the recognition Janene and Anthony are both the proudest of is the appreciation from their team and their clients.

Strata Electrical Contracting | Celebrating 10 years

NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC // CONSTRUCTION

NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

BY WILL PORTER

T

he year 2020 has been a historical year, with the outbreak of COVID-19 affecting the lives of everybody in the world. Certain industries ground to a halt for weeks, or even months, while others continued onward, although changed due to sanitation precautions, including social distancing.

Construction in the Edmonton region pushed through the effects of the pandemic ensuring that new housing construction already underway would continue, albeit at a slower rate, while also continuing to break ground on new projects. At the onset of the pandemic outbreak, new home

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NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

buyers started to worry about job security and their financial futures, but as the months went on the industry showed gains more rapidly than expected.

Adil Kodian, vice president of Rohit Communities, an industry leading builder for 30 years in the Edmonton region, has had an unexpectedly exciting summer for their business. “Earlier in the year, like most of our competitors, we had predicted a softer market for new homes due to the double whammy of COVID-19 and low oil prices. It was a pleasant surprise to see strong continued interest in new home sales and leasing through spring and summer of 2020.”

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NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC // CONSTRUCTION

KODIAN DESCRIBES SOME OF THEIR LATEST PROJECTS, SAYING, “ONE OF OUR NEWEST AND MOST EXCITING PROJECTS THIS SUMMER IS OUR STADIUM YARDS PROJECT IN DOWNTOWN EDMONTON. IT’S LOCATED IN CROMDALE, JUST EAST OF DOWNTOWN AND NEXT TO THE UPGRADED STADIUM LRT STATION AND COMMONWEALTH COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTRE.” Kodian describes some of their latest projects, saying, “One of our newest and most exciting projects this summer is our Stadium Yards project in downtown Edmonton. It’s located in Cromdale, just east of downtown and next to the upgraded Stadium LRT station and Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre. It is a thoughtfully designed transit-oriented, mixed-use project that provides an elevated experience to residents thanks to incredible amenity spaces and designer finishes.”

“Our Arbours of Keswick community has also been a busy area for us this summer,” he continues.

“We’re building such a diverse range of home styles there that have really resonated with new home buyers.

The neighbourhood is just over two years old but we’ve prioritized building the amenities – the new playground is now open and we’re so proud to have the Gordon King Pond at the centre of our community. We also have two new schools breaking ground in the area this September. Families have really loved the area.”

Meanwhile at Rococo Homes Inc., Rick Lystang, president, whose company for 13 years has built custom semi-estate homes in the Edmonton and surrounding regions in the $550K to $1.5M price ranges, is focusing on move-up buyers looking for more of a one-on-one custom home building experience.

Lystang says, “Initially we were not overly affected by the shutdown since construction was still considered to be an essential service. We did make changes to how the job site protocols were being laid out. We stepped up our efforts on disinfecting sites, as well as our offices, and went to one trade person in a home at one time to ensure social distancing.”

Lystang continues, “Our show home was closed to the public as it also acts as our office and headquarters. Staff were consulted and we decided to continue our office operations as all of our desks and workstations are socially distanced.

This was all done to ensure the safety of our internal and admin staff as well as give people continued employment as work was still going on. All company personnel as well as our trucks were equipped with hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, spray and disposable towels.”

At Rohit Communities, they also implemented similar social distancing and sanitization practices. Kodian further detailed technology advancements in helping cope with changes, and allowing them to continue with new home sales

ABOVE: ADIL KODIAN, VICE PRESIDENT, ROHIT COMMUNITIES.

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NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC // CONSTRUCTION

AT ROHIT COMMUNITIES, THEY ALSO IMPLEMENTED SIMILAR SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SANITIZATION PRACTICES. KODIAN FURTHER DETAILED TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS IN HELPING COPE WITH CHANGES, AND ALLOWING THEM TO CONTINUE WITH NEW HOME SALES AND ADAPT TO CHANGES BETTER THAN SOME BUSINESSES. and adapt to changes better than some businesses. “Due to COVID-19, technology transformation has been accelerated in the home building business. Gone are the days when the customer had to visit show homes during prescriptive hours to sign stacks of paper. Home builders now offer virtual tours, self-guided show home visits and fully online sales with digital signatures.”

He adds, “Builders are also working extra hard to digitize all the back office systems to allow their teams to be more effective in the field. Rohit has been an early investor

in technology with our investment in Tech2.Build – an in-house real estate tech startup. We have been using a completely paperless sales and construction process for almost two years now. With the introduction of online chat and curbside home visits, we have also adapted our business to this new reality.”

In terms of sales, Kodian has not seen the drop in interest in new home construction that was expected. “This is where it gets really interesting. When the shutdown was announced in March we planned for a sharp decline in

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47

NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC // CONSTRUCTION

“OUR COMPANY THROUGH FISCAL RESTRAINT, DIVERSIFICATION OF OUR BUSINESS REVENUE, AND LOWER OVERHEAD EXPENSE, CAN WEATHER THIS UNPRECEDENTED GAP IN OUR USUAL BUSINESS PLAN. I KNOW ROCOCO IS POISED TO BE READY TO CONTINUE ITS 13 YEARS OF OFFERING THE VERY BEST IN SERVICE AND PRODUCTS TO OUR CUSTOMERS,” SAYS LYSTANG. sales and started preparing to weather the storm ahead.

We were pleasantly surprised to see that demand for homes did not actually drop off. There are many reasons that we can speculate – it could be due to consumers not wanting to tour resale homes with existing occupants during a pandemic. It could be because many people found themselves suddenly in circumstances where their existing homes could not serve their work-from-home needs. In any case we have seen strong demand throughout the year. As a business we are on pace to finish our year with more sales in 2020 than 2019. We also see a lot more interest in our home designs, which include smart use of space – bonus room options, built-in desks and den or flex areas that allow people to work from home.”

While Lystang does expect a drop in revenues to appear in the third and fourth quarter, he is assured that Rococo is still in a good position compared to many other companies.

“Because of the cycle of our business being eight months to build a new home, many builders (including ourselves) most likely did not see much of a revenue drop for the first half of the year. However, the next two quarters will

show the sales revenue gap we experienced this spring due to COVID-19. Our company through fiscal restraint, diversification of our business revenue, and lower overhead expense, can weather this unprecedented gap in our usual business plan. I know Rococo is poised to be ready to continue its 13 years of offering the very best in service and products to our customers.”

Consulting the Edmonton Housing Report, August 2020 by BILD Alberta, total housing starts did see a decline resulting in lower than average build starts in May through August.

However, it only ended up being 20 per cent lower than the 10-year average in July, much better than initial forecasted.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) expects the forecast for housing starts in Edmonton for 2020 to be at the low end of 4,020 new builds, up to a possible 6,400.

The 2021 forecast is expected to be 6,115 to 9,075 builds, so the CMHC expects a good recovery in the next year.

While the COVID-19 pandemic did slow down sales in some markets and price ranges, and extended construction times for new home builds in 2020, it is expected for the new home construction market to recover next year. With new technology and procedure advances in place to assist consumers and builders, the industry is going to come out of the pandemic stronger than ever.

ABOVE: RICK LYSTANG, PRESIDENT, ROCOCO HOMES INC.

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NOVEMBER 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

50 YEARS STRONG:

A&H Steel Continues to Grow

By Nerissa McNaughton

A&H Steel • Celebrating 50 years 49

A

&H Steel specializes in the supply, fabrication and installation of reinforcing steel, also known as rebar. What started out in 1970 with 12 employees is now a company over 200 strong during peak season. A&H Steel is affiliated with Iron Workers Union Local 720. Principals Glenise Harvey and Craig Kotun also own a reinforcing steel detailing company in Vancouver (Phoenix Rebar Consultants) and have a 50 per cent ownership in A&H Vancouver, a company that opened in March 2020.

This year, A&H Steel is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

It all started with two brothers, Andy and Hank Kotun.

Glenise explains, “A year after starting out, Hank moved on to start his own rebar company, leaving Andy with A&H. My mother, Olga Chebuk, was working as a reinforcing steel detailer at the time and he invited her to become a partner with him. My mom was probably the only woman doing that job in Edmonton, possibly in Western Canada at that time. Andy and Olga remained the owners until 2006 at which time they transferred ownership to their children, which is how Craig and I became 50/50 owners.”

She continues with the history of the company, saying, “In our humble beginnings the company had four people working in the office, four people working on a shear and a bender, and about 15 to 20 men in the field. Andy was a hardworking man who did everything from the estimating, detailing, fabricating and placing.

My mom, as I mentioned, was a detailer. A detailer is a specialized draftsman who works off the drawings of engineers to produce shop drawings for the men to fabricate the correct lengths and bends of the bars and places drawings for the crews to place the bars appropriately on site. Together, Andy and Olga made an incredible team.”

Glenise Harvey and Craig Kotun

Some of the many projects A&H Steel has been involved with over the years include a large number of heavy industrial projects for Syncrude and Suncor, projects in the Fort McMurray region, 8th Avenue Place, Bow Valley College and Eau Claire Tower in Calgary, Rogers Place, the Edmonton Tower, LRT North, and LRT Valley Line.

Predictable Futures would like to congratulate A&H Steel on achieving 50 years in business. We know from experience that no firm sustains over decades and generations without evolving with the times, being determined to be the best, and managing risk and growth with excellence. A&H Steel has done all these things and more, and we are proud to be part of their journey.

Succession. Governance. Strategy.

12417 29a Ave Edmonton, AB T6J 6C7 Phone: 587-990-1179 | Toll Free: 1 866 241 2221 www.predictablefutures.com

A&H Steel • Celebrating 50 years • 2

Rogers Place

“We recently completed the LNG Cedar Valley Lodge in Kitimat and we are currently involved in other projects there,” Glenise adds. “A&H Vancouver is currently involved in supplying the rebar for a number of significant projects in the lower mainland, including 400 West Georgia, The Butterfly (this will be the tallest building in downtown Vancouver when it will be completed), and Riverbend (a warehouse facility the size of six footballs fields).”

Craig fondly remembers two projects that help define the company, saying, “Eight Avenue Place in Calgary was our first high rise. It also was our first raft slab, which happened to be one of the largest in Western Canada at that time. Rogers Place arena… that was a difficult job with an accelerated schedule. We not only met the schedule, but also kept the project within budget.”

Eighth Avenue Place, Calgary

Glenise attributes half a century of success to the hardworking men and women that have enjoyed longterm careers with A&H Steel.

“People are always a company’s greatest asset. Our parents laid the foundation of treating their employees

As a proud partner, CWB would like to congratulate A&H Steel on 50 years in business!

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A&H Steel • Celebrating 50 years • 3

Maple Ridge

primary purpose is to elevate them. Knowing that we are responsible for providing so many people with a livelihood is never lost on us and we want to constantly and consistently do our best for them. Second, is the joy of being a part of building communities.”

Glenise continues, “Most people don’t know how very driven we are by our five values: • “No BS” (Authenticity) • “I say it, I mean it” (Integrity) • “I own it” (Responsibility), • “I give a sh*t about others” (Bigger than myself), and • Happiness “We have spent a significant amount of time and funds training, developing and operationalizing these values with our people. At A&H they are not words on a wall or the website. They are laws of performance!”

It’s not just the team and clients A&H Steel is passionate about. Their commitment encompasses the community as well. For the last three years the company has supported United Way. Recently, A&H has also adopted a school.

Edmonton Fabrication Shop

well and taking care of them because they knew with those people working side by side with them, they could keep the business viable and provide others with a livelihood. Over 50 years, A&H Steel has had the privilege of employing many amazing, hard working, dedicated people. If it wasn’t for everyone over these years, we would not still be here and going strong.”

She and Craig take their responsibility to the team and to their clients very seriously. “First and foremost,” notes Glenise, “is being able to provide numerous people with a workplace that honours them and whose

“Our first project was to buy the school recess equipment,” says Glenise. “Due to COVID they are limited to the amount of time they get on the playground equipment. We want to make this a very personal experience for the students as well as the teachers and our people.”

As with many businesses in Alberta, A&H Steel is challenged by the repercussions of the pandemic and the state of Alberta’s economy, but Glenise and Craig have plenty of room and reason for optimism.

“We are very excited about our expansion into Vancouver,” Glenise smiles. “This only just happened

A&H Steel • Celebrating 50 years • 4

CONGRATULATIONS A&H STEEL ON 50 YEARS! 11210-107 Avenue, Edmonton, AB Ph: (780) 452-2300 | Fax: (780) 452-2335 | doylecompany.ca

Barsplice Products, Inc. congratulates A&H Steel on their milestone 50th Anniversary!

Andy and Olga

in March of 2020, so we are still very focused on nurturing it into the kind of success we have experienced here. We have partnered with some phenomenal formwork companies, Whitewater Concrete and Syber Concrete, to reinvent the industry in the Lower Mainland.”

On behalf of management and the team, Glenise thanks A&H Steel’s founders; past and present staff; Nestor Puchalski and Marvin Olansky, who, among others, had a profound impact on the company; vendors; suppliers; and of course – satisfied customers across Western Canada.

Glenise concludes, “A&H Steel is committed to getting rebar out the door and in place for our customers.

Their happiness matters.”

For A&H Steel, 50 years is just the beginning of even more wonderful things to come.

It’s our privilege as a mechanical coupler supplier to partner with the A&H Steel team on the leading reinforced concrete projects in Edmonton!

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From one family business to another, McNish Steel would like to congratulate A&H Steel on their 50th Anniversary.

10636-205 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5S 1Z1 P: 780-447-3337 | F: 780-447-3379 | www.mcnishsteel.com

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10/6/2020 2:40:33 PM

Experience, Knowledge, Support: Congdon’s Aids to Daily Living Celebrates 50 Years

By Nerissa McNaughton with photos by Rebecca Lippiatt Congdon’s Aids to Daily Living Ltd. • Celebrating 50 years

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L

ife changes, and sometimes those changes affect our mobility and dignity. Faced with suddenly having to use an ostomy system, needing assistance to navigate stairs or get out of a bathtub, or dealing with a life changing illness comes with physical and emotional challenges. There is a company in Edmonton that has, for 50 years, helped people of all

ages face challenges like these by providing products backed by empathetic support, experience and knowledge. That place is Congdon’s Aids to Daily Living.

Congdon’s Aids to Daily Living Ltd. is where Edmonton and area residents go for medical products, such as stair lifts, powered scooters, wound

Congdon’s Aids to Daily Living Ltd. • Celebrating 50 years • 2

care, ostomy and incontinence products and more, that help them live their most active and independent life. Services include delivery, repairs, rentals, customized fittings, and installations. Specially For You Wellness Boutique is a division started in 1980 to offer products and services relating to mastectomy recovery, compression needs and more, including in store and mobile fittings.

Claire Congdon launched the business, then known as the Ostomy Care Centre, in 1970.

“There was a new need for people getting surgeries for ostomies, iliostomies, etc. and Claire took up the challenge when her youngest child started in school,” says Don Congdon, president. “Claire was a pioneer at that time for being a woman starting her own business while also becoming an entrostomal therapist.”

Over the years, the company grew in both products and as a family business.

Don Congdon and his sister Linda Hollman.

“At Congdon’s, we are more than just a store,” explains Don. “With 50 years of experience under our belt, we know what you need to make an informed decision about the healthcare needs that best suit you and

those for which you are providing care. Our excellent customer service team is devoted to providing you with the highest quality of service and products. We are here to listen, advise and educate customers, caregivers

Congratulations Congdon’s on 50 Years of Excellence!

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Congdon’s Aids to Daily Living Ltd. • Celebrating 50 years • 3

and healthcare professionals alike. When visiting your home or establishment, we come well equipped with knowledge, compassion and respect.”

He continues, “My sister, Linda Hollman, and I are proud and excited about our recent expansion and the opportunity to carry on our responsibility to our valued clientele that was originally started by our mother as the Ostomy Care Centre. Now, 50 years later, Congdon’s Aids to Daily Living is a leading home health care dealer,

Proud to be growing together with you.

Happy 50th, Congdon’s!

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1970 Congratulations to Congdon’s for 50 years in business!

Amoena is proud to be a partner, serving women after breast surgery.

2020

providing a wide range of products for all types of clients and their special needs. We are fortunate to have employed such a great team of people including five third-generation family members. We are not just a family business… we are a business family!”

In the beginning, Claire was the sole proprietor and employee. Today there are 27 on the team. Everyone is focused on providing customers at any age with the products and services that enhance a better and safer quality of life. The knowledgeable, caring staff and fast delivery service is one of the reasons behind their 50year success.

“We care and we are willing to go above and beyond to help people,” confirms Don. “We carry over 4,000 products and we are diligently expanding our market into the large equipment side such as manual and power wheelchairs, outdoor porch lifts, stair chairs, and more.”

Congdon’s Aids to Daily Living Ltd. • Celebrating 50 years • 4

Airflow Cushion

Tilting Wheelchair

Manual Wheelchair

Congratulations to Congdon’s on 50 Years! www.powerplusmobility.com

Congdon’s Aids to Daily Living Ltd. • Celebrating 50 years • 5

Power Wheelchair

Congdon’s is very invested in the wellbeing of their clients, and that concern extends into the community. For years the company has supported the Edmonton Ostomy Association (until their recent need for closure), ALS Society of Alberta and others.

He continues, “Even though Congdon’s sells large equipment and is expanding, the majority of our business is still based on the original soft goods market, such as ostomy, incontinence, wound care, and Wellness Boutique.”

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As with many of the city’s local businesses during this time, things can be challenging, despite the longevity of the company and ongoing need for their products and services.

“We love Edmonton and north-central Alberta, however, the City itself has made things very difficult with its high property taxes” explains Don. The COVID-19 economy and City’s high taxes are two of our biggest challenge at this time.”

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While addressing these challenges, he also cites, “Working with such an amazing team of people and being able to assist those who are in need of our products and services,” as a daily highlight.

Congdon’s is very invested in the wellbeing of their clients, and that concern extends into the community.

For years the company has supported the Edmonton Ostomy Association (until their recent need for closure), ALS Society of Alberta and others.

ALS Society of Alberta’s mission is to provide support, facilitate the provision of care, promote awareness, help find a cure and advocate for change on behalf of those affected by or suffering with the neurological disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. By supporting non-profit organizations like this, Congdon’s demonstrates its unwavering commitment to helping Edmontonians live as actively and independently as possible, now and into the future.

From its humble beginnings and the foresight of one incredible woman half a century ago to today, Congdon’s has changed the lives of thousands of people, helping them regain independence, self confidence, and mobility. Congdon’s has also lessoned the strain on caregivers through products like incontinence support, bath lifts, and patient lifters. Through supporting non-profit and charitable

Congdon’s Aids to Daily Living Ltd. • Celebrating 50 years • 6

Looking back, Don and Linda couldn’t be happier about the company’s growth since its humble beginnings, and all the people they have helped along the way. They and their team are incredibly grateful to the many people that have provided support over the past 50 years, including past and present team members, vendors, suppliers, networking associates, and – of course – the valued customers.

With a firm foundation and an eye to the future, the family business is set to continue firmly on its path.

“Five third-generation family members are slowly taking over the business with guidance from myself and Linda, while also being mentored and led by Trish Kinney, Congdon’s general manager and employee of 38 years,” says Don.

Mrs. Claire Congdon

organizations, Congdon’s helps to enable continued research into diseases like ALS that can have such a long-term impact on health, and support for people and their families – who must also learn to adapt – when a loved one becomes differently-abled.

Whether you need assistance for yourself or someone you love, you are always welcomed warmly at Congdon’s. Don concludes, “We look forward to working with you and welcoming you as a part of the Congdon’s family!”

10550 – Mayfield Road, Edmonton, AB T5P 4X4 Phone: (780) 483-1762 | Fax: (780) 489-6813 | Toll Free: 1-800-252-9368 | Email: info@congdons.ca Facebook: www.facebook.com/congdonsaidstodailyliving www.congdons.ca

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Congdon’s Aids to Daily Living Ltd. • Celebrating 50 years • 7

EWEL STILL HAS THAT SPARK AFTER 45 YEARS

By Nerissa McNaughton with photos by Rebecca Lippiatt

The successful local brand continues to be a big part of the community, while growing, changing, and keeping up with the times.

EWEL Electrical Wholesalers • 45 years • 1 62

I

n 2015 Bruce Carson, David Carson, Terry Black, Al Graham and Tom Kelly sat down with Business in Edmonton to discuss the company that opened on Halloween of 1975. The interview, the team, the headquarters and everything about EWEL spoke to why the brand was such a success – great people, great products, and winning attitudes all around that tempered good business sense with experience and solution-oriented judgement. Now the electrical wholesale distributor for residential and commercial products is back to let us know what’s changed as they gear up to celebrate their 45 year milestone.

In 2019 EWEL was acquired by Guillevin International and now operates as an independent division of the brand. EWEL is now helmed by David Carson, General Manager; Mike Gravel, Sales Manager; and Jon Kudryk, Operations Manager. New lines, Knipex, Wera, Drexan, Paulin, have been added to the inventory. Drexan is especially exciting as this is an industrial line from a globally leading manufacturer of trace heating systems.

While the pandemic makes it hard to celebrate 45 years the way they want to, surrounded by old and new customers, suppliers, and friends, the management team feels they have plenty to be thankful for in 2020.

EWEL Electrical Wholesalers • 45 years • 2

Adam Otto, Controller; David Carson, General Manager; Mike Gravel, Sales Manager and Jon Kudryk, Operations Manager.

“We were born in Alberta in 1975 and we love this city and this province. We’ve made it our business to know the Alberta and Edmonton markets very well,” says Gravel. “Those factors allow us to move and react to our customers and the market much faster than our larger competitors.”

Carson adds, “We have committed, loyal, long-term employees with an abundance of knowledge. It’s because of this low turnover rate that we’ve been able to lead the way in customer service and satisfaction.”

The team found 2016 to be memorable over the past five years because that is when they implemented a new ERP system.

Gravel explains, “Implementing our new ERP system was memorable, and not completely in a good way! It was an exceptional challenge with a lot of ups and downs, but we made it through. It’s changed our business insights and processes in profound ways.”

EWEL Electrical Wholesalers • 45 years • 3

Eaton would like to congratulate Electrical Wholesalers Edmonton Ltd. on their 45th anniversary in the electrical wholesale industry in the Edmonton area and wish them continued success in the future.

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EWEL Electrical Wholesalers • 45 years • 4

For Carson, 2019 stands out due to the smooth implementation of a planned succession.

“That year marked a significant changing of the guard, so to speak,” he says. “We were able to swap long-term shareholders for a younger, enthusiastic management team and do so in a very short period of time. It’s this next generation of management that is going to lead the way for many years to come.”

Like every business in the city, the economy and the pandemic have presented challenges.

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EWEL Electrical Wholesalers • 45 years • 5

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Management is happy to inform that business is again on the upswing, and they are holding their own amongst fierce industry competition. With more than 40 successful years behind them, it’s safe to assume that they are looked at as worthy competitors as well.

Despite the challenges, there are plenty of rewards, as Carson notes, “Coming to work and feeling the energy that everyone in the building brings every day… we are one big family and that makes coming to work always enjoyable. As Mark Twain said, ‘find a job you enjoy doing,

CONGRATULATIONS TO EWEL ELECTRICAL WHOLESALERS ON 45 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

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EWEL Electrical Wholesalers • 45 years • 6

and you will never work a day in your life.’

That’s what the amazing employees at EWEL do for me.”

Those employees take their job very seriously – just one example is Don Cherwonka, the resident lighting expert that has been with EWEL since 1975. He is happy to share stories about working with Bob Carson in the 80s.

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EWEL Electrical Wholesalers • 45 years • 7

Two things that have not – and will never – change for EWEL are the customer focus and the love of the local community. Way back in the 70s EWEL set out to be the best electrical distributor in Edmonton and their number one priority remains being so by never letting their customers down.

“We’ve got your back during this pandemic – and beyond!” says Gravel. He adds, “We’re all proud to be Edmonton born and bred.

EWEL’s ownership has changed recently, but we’re still managed by a group of lifelong Edmontonians. We love this town and we’re stoked to be a part of this awesome, supportive community.”

The current conditions have not stopped EWEL from its mission of being community focused in both job scope and in charitable giving. Gravel confirms, “We supplied new electrical service gear for the Cross Cancer Institute, and it was a job that held special meaning for us. All of us have been touched in some way by cancer, so it was great to see that grand old building get the upgrades that it needed.”

“We’ve been involved with Aurora Cannabis almost since the start and with our contractor partners, we’ve played a role in building many of their facilities in the Edmonton area. We’ve supplied everything from switchgear and transformers to cable tray and pipe. We’re proud to have played a role in Aurora’s success. We are also very proud to have contributed to a few projects in ICE District. We supplied some lighting equipment for both Rogers Place and the Stantec Tower. Those projects were massive, and our role was small in the grand scheme, but we were thrilled to have a hand in building ICE District.”

Carson adds, “We do our best to support the Edmonton Food Bank every year, and we’re proud to have supported the Canadian Cancer Society over the past few years, as well as MS Edmonton, among many other non-profit organizations.”

The business community has been proud to recognize EWEL over the years for its outstanding leadership and customer focus. EWEL has received the iMark Award for Purchasing Excellence in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019; David Carson has been honoured as a Business Leader in 2018; and employee Brittany Taylor earned an ECAA Emerging Leader award in 2019.

Yet EWEL remains very humble, saying the reasons for its success rests on partnerships inside and outside of the corporation.

“No business is successful without its strategic partners,” says Gravel. “We’d be nowhere without excellent partners like Schneider Electric, Eaton, WOW Lighting, and Prolux just to name a few.”

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EWEL Electrical Wholesalers • 45 years • 8

“We could go on and on about all the partners but want to say a special thanks to all of our amazing customers,” adds Carson. “You’re what make all of this possible; without you, we’d have no business at all. We’ve grown together in our businesses and our relationships and you are what keep us smiling. Sincerely, thank you!”

After 45 years EWEL isn’t standing still. They still have that spark and it burns as brightly as ever. A new branch is opening next year, which management calls a “minor miracle in the time of COVID,” and a new e-commence solution is the works to be implemented in Q3 2021.

Don’t take your eyes off EWEL. They are the humble company that just keeps growing and improving Edmonton and Alberta one project and one act of service at a time. Learn more at www. ewel.ca online, or on social media on their Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram channels.

To the EWEL Staff and Management, Congratulations on your 45th Anniversary. ~ The Drexan Energy Systems Team www.drexan.com

EWEL Electrical Wholesalers • 45 years • 9

14830 – 124 Avenue Edmonton, AB, Canada 780.451.2311 | hello@ewel.ca www.ewel.ca

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At Wine and Beyond, we’re so committed to bringing you the Lowest Price on our most popular products that we keep our eye on the competition every day to make sure you’re getting the best price and selection.

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PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE: If a competitor within a store’s geographic trade area offers a lower price on any item, that we carry in that store, simply show an advertisement or receipt for that price and we will sell you that item at the same price at that store.

We will match the competitor’s price only during the effective date of the competitor’s advertisement or within 7 days of the receipt date; and in any event only while the competitor’s stock for that item at that price remains. The Price Match Guarantee only applies to identical items; meaning the same brand, item type, size and all other attributes, as determined by us. The terms “competitor” and “geographical trade area” are further determined solely by us, in our sole discretion and such determination shall be based on a number of factors which can change from time to time at our discretion. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, the Price Match Guarantee does not apply to licensee sales, “multi-buys” (eg, 2 for $4 or “spend or buy x and get x Free or for a reduced price”); and discounts obtained through loyalty or other programs. We reserve the right to limit quantities. Price Match Guarantee is valid only while supplies last. No rain checks, no substitutions. Price Match Guarantee will not be applied to prices and quantities resulting from errors and omissions of us or others. Price Match Guarantee inapplicable and will not be applicable if prohibited by law.